Collapsible-tube squeezer



Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

' UNITED STATES JOHN L. JMOHUN, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE SQUEEZER.

Application filed June '15, 1923. Serial 1W0. 645,510.

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible tube squeezers.

One object of the invention is to provide a neat appearing, simple and eflicient squeezing device, especially adapted for expressing the contents from collapsible tubes, so constructed and arranged that the removal of the entire contents thereof is assured.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which is manually operable and portable, and serves as a holder for the collapsible tube, so that it may be carried for personal use, as when traveling, or may be stood in upright position on a shelf or other support.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a combined holder and squeezer for collapsible tubes, comprising a pair of arms forming a hand grip and receiving the 1 tube therebetween, the arms being connected by. flexible means conforming to, and embracing the tube, the arms having their lower ends weighted so as to stabilize the device when stood in upright position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my improved collapsible tube squeezer, showing the same applied to a tube and in fully open position, the tube being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a front elevational view looking from the right in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are-views similar to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 showing the device partly closed, and Fig. 4 showing the same in fully closed position. And Fig. 5 is a transverse, horizontal sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

In said drawing 10 denotes the usual soft metal collapsible tube commonly used as a container for material of plastic nature,

such as tooth paste, shaving cream and other toilet articles. The tube 10, herein lllustrated, is provided with a neck 11 through which the contents are delivered, the neck being closed by a screw cap 12.

The improved squeezer, as shown, comprises, broadly, a' pair of elongated arms AA; a pair of hinged flexible plates B-B attached to the inner faces of the arms; and a curved spring plate C hingedly connecting the upper ends of the arms.

The arms A may be made of any desired material, as for instance aluminum, stamped or pressed sheet metal or other suitable ma terial and are of like construction. Each of the arms A is provided with a longitudinally extending flat inner surface 13 and a transversely convex outer surface 14. The upper end of each arm is rounded off as indicated at 15, and at the lower end the same is provided with an enlarged, outwardly flaring, hollow portion 16. The enlarged portion 16 is filled with lead or any other suitable heavy material, so as to weightthe lower end of each arm for the purpose hereinafter described.

The flexible plates B are in the form of flat springs co-extensive in width with the arms A and secured to the inner surfaces of the latter by screws 21, the upper portion of each of the plates being in flat face-to-face contact with the arms and having its extreme upper ends curled over the rounded upper end portion of the corresponding arm A, as indicated at 22 in Figs. 1 and 3. The lower portions of the plates B are curved toward each other, as indicated at 23 in Fig.

-1, being formed with hinge portions 24; at

their extreme lower ends, connected by a hinge pin 25, the plates being slightly shorter than the arms B so that the hinged connection of the former is disposed inwardly of the lower ends of the arms. Approx1- mately midway between the upper and lower end, each plate is provided with a pair of transversely alined, spaced,- curved fingers or clips 26 disposed at opposite sides of the longitudinal center line thereof, and projecting toward the corresponding fingers on the opposite plate. The fingers 26 of each plate are formed'by slitting the plate vertically for a distance near the edges thereof, forming a pair of transverse parallel slits extending inwardly from each of said vertical slits and bending the tongues thus formed away from the main plane of the plate.

The sprin plate 0 is upwardl curved in the form 0 an arch and has t e opposite ends thereof curled to provide "eyes 27 which are received in transversely extending recesses or sockets 28 on the outer sides of and near the upper ends of the arms A. The spring plate C is so formed as to be under tension when the arms A are separated and thus assure the arms following up the sides of the tube as the latter is gradually comper ends of the arms and is provided with a central opening 30 adapted to loosely re ceive the neck 11 of the collapsible tube.

When the device is in open osition, as shown in Fig. 1, the arms are disposed in approximately parallel relation and spaced apart a proper distance to receive a filled collapsible tubetherebetween, with the flexi- 'ble plate B engaging the front and rear sides of the tube and the fingers 26 embracing the same, the contour of the plates be ing such that they conform closely to the outline of the tube.

To place the collapsible tube within the squeezer and after the cap 12 is removed from the tube, the spring plate C is taken oif of the arms A-A; the tube then inserted downwardl between the arms AA; and the spring finally slipped over the neck of the tube and theeyes 27 of the spring plate C then snapped into the recesses or sockets 28. When the tube is inserted, the same is securely held in position by the spring fingers 26, with the front and rear sides abutting the plates B and the upper end abutting the plate C. The device with the tube thus held therein may be laid on its side or stood on end in upright position, the weighted lower ends of the members A having a stabilizing efliect when placed in the latter position tending to retain the device in that position and compelling its return to upright position when accidentally tilted.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3 and .4, the lower end faces of the arms A are slightly curved as indicated at 31 so that the device may rock to facilitate its return to vertical position.

To eject the contents of the tube, it is merely necessary to press together the arms A at the desired point, the pressure being first applied near the lower ends of the arms thereby compressing the lower end portion of the tube to a greater extent than the upper portion thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. As the tube is gradually. emptied the compressing force is applied to the arms at points progressively nearer the upper end of the tube, gradually flatening out the tube until the entire contents have been ejected, the parts at this time being in the position shown in Fig. 4.

It will be evident that the compressing forcemay be applied at any desired point along the arms forming the hand grip, and that the point of application may be varied as found expedient to facilitate the removal of the contents of the tube. Another feature of my improvements, which will be evident from a comparison of Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the drawing, resides in the fact that the parts are so connected that the arms and spring plates 23 will automatically follow up the tube as it is gradually collapsed and there will be no lost motion or play between the tube and the holder or squeezer.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out the invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a hand operated device for ejecting the contents from collapsible tubes, the combination with a pair of yieldably connected arms adapted to be pressed toward each other; of a flexible member disposed between said arms conforming to the outline of the tube and adapted to be compressed by the movement of said arms towardeach other to flatten out the tube and eject the contents thereof.

2. In a collapsible tube squeezer, the combination with a pair of spaced arms hingedly -connected at their upper ends to a. curved plate having an opening adapted to receive the neck portion of a collapsible tube; of a pair of plates fixed to the inner sides of said arms, said plates conforming in contour to the outline of the tube, adapted to receive the tube therebetween, and hinged at their lower ends.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of arms connected at their adjacent ends; of a pair of hingedly connected flexible members secured to the inner sides of said arms, the free ends of said arms being weighted to stabilize the device when stood in upright position.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a plurality of hand grip elements yieldingly connected at one set of ends; of inherently resilient means arranged to pass around the opposite end of the tube and connected to said hand grip elements.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of arms yieldingly connected at one set of ends, said arms being adapted to retain a collapsible tube therebetween, the yielding connection between said ends being arranged to pass around one end of the tube; of resilient means secured to said arms and arranged to pass around the opposite end of said tube whereby, the arms are automatically held in close contact with the sides of the tube at all times as the latter is compressed and the contents thereof ejected therefrom.

6. In a device of the character described. the combination with a plurality of hand gripping elements yieldably'connected at one set of ends and arranged to fit over a tube; of movably connected means arranged to pass around the opposite end of the tube and be connected to said hand gripping elements.

7 In a collapsible tube squeezer, the combination with a pair of spaced arms connected at one of their ends; of a pairof plates secured to the inner faces of said arms and connected at their ends opposite the ends of said arms, and adapted to receive a. collapsible tube. the-rebetween.

8. In a collapsible tube squeezer, the combination with a pair of spaced arms connected at their upper ends; of a pair of flexible members secured to the inner faces of said arms and movably connected at their lower ends and adapted to receive a collapsible tube therebetween. the free ends of said arms being weighted to stabilize the device so as to hold the tube in upright position.

9. In a collapsible tube squeezer, the combination with elements movably connected together and adapted to be disposed about a tube; compressing members connected together and to said elements, said compressing members being arranged to engage said elements throughout their extent during the expulsion of the contents of said tube.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have-hereunto subscribed my name this 7th day of June, 1923.

JOHN L. MOHUN. 

